goodcopybadcopy. I like Clare Lynch’s obsessive attention to detail and the regular series on ‘Words that should be banned’ (including impact and facilitate. I vote for solution.) - Daily Writing Tips. There’s an interesting debate on how long a paragraph should be. (My opinion: as long as necessary but not a word longer.)
- 15 Widespread Creativity Myths on LifeDev. Do writers really sit alone in their garret without washing, shaving or putting out their cigarette? This excellent article explodes some commonplace creativity myths and clichés. One myth that stands out for me “Structure is bad for creative thinking.” This is truly a myth in my experience. An editor at Wired told me that if I tried to be the best writer on every topic, I would end up being a lousy writer on all of them. Better to focus. Become an expert. Make a choice and rejoice within it. Another good post helps creative types turn fear into something positive.
- Ideology trump facts on ars technica. An old post that offers some insight into why people stick with bad decisions and beliefs. Important background reading for anyone who thinks about building civil society, disagreeing agreeably (a phrase used by Sandra Day O’Connor on the Daily Show last night) and building consensus on controversial subjects such as MMR (my bugbear), the Iraq war, stem cells etc.
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Regarding paragraph length: Yes! Not one sentence longer.
In part, this agrees with Einstein, who said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
This also echos Cicero: ““When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men’s minds take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.”